Emergency alerts to ping cell phones, Internet

WASHINGTON -- The government will soon be pinging cell phones and posting on Web sites to warn Americans of impending disasters as it updates its Cold War-era emergency alert system.

By the end of next year, the Homeland Security Department expects to be able to send emergency alerts to cell phones, Internet sites and hand-held computers to reach as many people as possible before a catastrophe strikes, spokesman Aaron Walker said Tuesday. It also seeks to transmit warnings on cable TV channels and satellite radio to supplement the government's long-tested but never-used national alerts on network channels and AM radio stations.

"Anything that can receive a text message will receive the alert," said Walker.